North West Healthcare Scientists receiving national awards for innovation, promoting Healthcare Science outside the NHS and completing the Healthcare Science Leadership Development programme to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care.

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Meet the Team

Helen developed an interest in training Healthcare Scientists through her background as a Clinical Scientist in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. She joined Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority in 2005 after setting up the Healthcare Science Network in 2004. Her role as North West Healthcare Science Workforce Lead means she now represents all Healthcare Scientists across the North West.

Helen's role is to represent all 45 specialisms of Healthcare Scientist for workforce and education workstreams, locally, regionally and nationally. She has also developed strong links with the Department of Health and the Chief Scientific Officer Prof. Sue Hill and collaborates with them on a wide range of projects. She is national lead for Healthcare Science week.

Helen (centre) was delighted to win "Healthcare Science Ambassador of the Year 2012" at the Chief Scientific Officers Leadership event in London in May 2012, and is pictured here with Andrew Lansley (former Secretary of State for Health) and the Chief Scientific Officer Prof. Sue Hill.

Having trained as a nurse, Neil's early career saw him work in London, India and Ireland, predominantly in respiratory medicine and clinical teaching. He moved to the North West in 1987, initially working as a clinical manager and then in general management at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Neil's role at NHS North West involves commissioning, procuring and performance managing healthcare education in higher education and with NHS and associated organisations. It covers both pre and post registration education and links closely with workforce planning and modernisation.

Neil also leads on workforce issues for Healthcare Science, Pharmacy and Clinical Psychology and manages the contracts for post basic mental health education, PSI, advanced dementia care and primary care mental health education. Neil is a trained organisational development facilitator with experience across a range of groups and organisations.

Katie has worked in the NHS for ten years and held a number of positions across primary, tertiary and acute trusts. These positions include: medical technical officer, trainee healthcare scientist through to specialist healthcare scientist where she currently works in her chosen field of microbiology at Alder Hey Childrens' Hospital.

This has given her experience in all quarters of the NHS and the opportunity to grow and develop through the NHS. She has been published in several papers for her research and worked with organisations and colleagues in the private and NHS sectors.

Katie has been seconded to the role of North West Modernising Scientific Careers Programme Manager for Health Education England's North West Team and brings to this role a broad understanding of the agenda, a wealth of experience and above all the enthusiasm and passion to drive forward and continue the work started by Nick Fowler-Johnson, together with developing local organisational healthcare science networks.